Detector-bar for railroard-switches.



No. 703,537. Patented m I, I902.

- IL. CARRIER.

\ DETECTOR BAR FOR RAILROAD SWITCHES.

(Applicltion mod. Apr. 94, 1902.)

(No llo dal.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LYMAN CARRIER, OF J OLIET, ILLINOIS.

DETECTOR-BAR FOR RAILROAD-SWITCHES."

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 703,537, dated July 1, 1902.

Application filed April 24, 1902.

To LLZZ rah/07m it may concern.- 4

Be it known that I, LYMAN CARRIER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Joliet, in the county of -Will and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Detector-Bars for Railroad-Switches; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the artto which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain improvements in detector-bars for railroad-switches, adapted to prevent movement of the switch while the wheels of a car are on the movable rails or rails adjacent to the switch-rails.

The object of the invention is to provide a detector-bar which is simple of construction, durable and efficient in use, and comparatively inexpensive of production and in which provision is made for shielding the parts from access of dust, dirt, 850., and from casual inury. 7

With the above and other objects in view, which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is betterunderstood, said invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combination and arrangement of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described,defined in the appended claims,and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan showing the applica-. tion of the invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the detector-bar and stationary bar, showing in full and broken lines the two extremes of adjustment of the detector-bar. Fig. 3 is a side elevation. Fig. 4 is a cross-section on line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 represents an ordinary railroad-rail resting on cross-ties 2.

Abar 3 is secured to the ties at the side of the rail 1 in any preferred manner. Above this bar 3 is arranged a bar 4, which may be termed the detector-bar and which has journaled therein rollers 5, which roll'upon the bar 3, and thereby support said detectorbar. The bar 4 is thus mounted to reciprocate or travel longitudinally on the stationary bar 3 and is provided at one end with a rod 6 for connection with any ordinary switch- Serial No. 104,582. (No model.)

stand mechanism,so that whenever the switch is operated it will through the medium of said rod move the bar 4: endwise in either direction.

The bar 3 is formed in its upper edge with undulating surfaces 7, which extend only a short distance, far enough to accomplish the desired object. These undulating surfaces are adapted to receive the rollers 5 as the bar 4 is moved back'and forth, so thatwhen the detector-bar is moved forward,'as when the switch is moved in one direction, the rollers will stand upon the apexes of theundulating surfaces and elevate said detector-bar, so that it will project above the rail 1 and indicate the position of the switch. When the carwheels are standing on the railroad-track on its part adjacent to the detector-bar 4, the car-wheels will prevent the detector-bar and the switch, to which it is connected, from being moved,as'when the detector-bar is moved from the full-line position shown in Fig. 2 it must necessarily be'ielevated, which is impossible while the car-wheels stand over the detector-bar, so that the switch cannot be moved and run the cars off the track while they are over the detector-bar. It is intended that the detector-bar shall be long enough to extend a considerable distance in either direction from the switch, so as to prevent turningof the switch some time before'a train reaches theswitch, and it is designed that when the detector-bar is given its full throw in either direction it will be down out of the way of a passing train. It is only when a train is over the detector-bar that the switch is prevented from being turned in either direction, as the detector-bar'is only elevated just while the switch is being turned in either direction. As shown, the detector-bar is held from outward displacement between the rail and suitable guides 8 and is preferably channeled or ofinverted- U form, so that it will serve as a hood or shield to inclose the bar 3 and rollers and prevent access of dust, dirt,'or any foreign substance or obstructions likely to clog the rollers and interfere with-the proper operation of said detector-bar and also to protect the parts from injury by exterior shocks or blows.

From the foregoing description, taken in.

connection with the accompanying drawings,

it is thought that the construction, mode of operation, and advantages of my improved detector-bar will be readily apparent without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a rail; of a bar fixed at the side of the rail, a channeled bar movably mounted and inclosing the top and sides of the fixed bar, one of said bars having an undulating surface and the other rollers to traverse said fixed bar whereby the second bar is adapted to rise and fall when adjusted lengthwise of the fixed bar, and means for imparting an endwise movement to the upper bar, substantially as specified.

2. The combination with a rail, of a bar fixed at the side of the rail and having an undulating surface, a second bar movably mounted above the fixed bar and having r011- ers supporting it on said fixed bar, said second bar being channeled to inclose the rollers and top and sides of the fixed bar, and means for imparting an endwise movement to the upper bar, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LYMAN CARRIER.

\Vitnesses:

JOHN S. REYNOLDS, JOHN H. WARD. 

